The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1887-12-29

or two. and then took agin to riding
on the rail. First she went to Clover
dale to buy q tin kittle for 10 cents |
which she said was saving of 5 cents
from gitten il at Crcss-Keys.
Then she left her gal at home and |
tuck Lucindy Parks along, all the way
to the city to sell her eggs and buy a |
caliker gownd; and so it went all the |
Summer.
.-Oh. never mind" says the con-
ductor, smiling hard kind of smile. |
She'll get tired of travelin' arter
while"
But she didn't seem to get tired. On
the contrary she took to making
regular trips, taking along first one
person and then another, until the
conductors got to looking as grum
as bears: and even the firemen and
injineers scowled or laughed every
time she put in an appearance.
One injineer used to let off a fear
full schreech O. the b'iler whenever he
seed her coming; but, after the first
scare, she got used to it and tuck no
notice.
And once when she was late, and
the conductor started the train
about climbing aboard, she threatened
agin.
They knew she'd keep her word, so
they was all obliged to be on their good
behavior to her.
So she kept it up all the first year or
two; Her way was to get aboard with
her female companion, whoever it
might be for the time, and jest fix
herself comfortably near the stove or
at window, 'cording as it was Sum-
mer or Winter, and thar sit and knit
the whole journey through.
She'd carry one woman up maybe.
and bring another down, and at last it
came out that she was maxim regular
business of it, with folks that wanted
to visit the town or country, they pay
| ing her half and a quarter the regular
| fare on what was passed off on the
| railroad folks for free trip.
The company interfered then, and
said something about stopping it by
law; but she lowed they hadn't stiper-
| lated bout any business matters o'hern.
and she was keeping to the letter of
| agreement.
Then they tried to buy her off, but
she said she was satisfied as things
was and wanted no change. Still, it
was clear that she was not only max
ing money for herself but keeping the
company out OF IL.
There was one injineer named Wells
on one of the trains, and bimeby, when
| this had been going on a matter OF
four or five years, Betsey Ann Simcoe
noticed that he always fetched his cap
and looked at her in soft, spooney
| sort O. way whenever he seen her.
One day, when she was standing on
the bank, he flung a bokey of pinks
and Neutrality-suspicious. to her feet, and
another time pitched her a pound O.
candy.
Then he handed her a newspaper
| with some verses in it marked with char
coal-sOmething about his heart being
captivated by lady cover the way
that he'd never spoken to; and at last
came letter saying as how he'd seen
her so often on the cars, and he was
sure she would make him the good,
wanted, if she could only bring herself
to fancy him as he did her.
Well, she answered the letter, and a
meeting was fixed; but meantime one
O. the railroad chaps stepped in and
told her that Wells was getting so dis
sipated that the company talked OF
discharging him, but she might be able
to save him only on condition that he'd
give up going to bar-rooms.
He considered of it and said he
would if she'd promise to give up her
railroad travelling and stay at home
and make it comfortable and agree
! able for him and her.
So they both put it down in black
and white, and got witnesses to it, and
took oath to keep their words, and
then they was married.
Of course Betsy Ann Wells stayed al
home now, and set about doing all she
could to make it pleasant for her hus
band. She had plenty of time to do il
| in. for he didn't make his appearance
, there once a month, skeersely; and al
last she found out that it was all put
. up job of the companys who'd bribed
Wells with 5000 to marry her off the
road for good.
: He was reckless sort of a chap
but not bad, and had always been as
: sober and free from bar-roomS as 6
Judge.
, Betsy Ann was awful cut up when
she found it out, for she'd set her hear
on him, as old maids are apt to sci
their hearts on the first man that pur-
| tends to keer for 'em.
She didn't say nothing, even tC
: Lucindy Parks, but went right along
! doing the best she could to make il
IOE WhSHCN OI AAt
| came to see her.
, And at last, when he met with al
} accident from collision on the road
: and had to be laid up for weeks befor'
J he got well again, she had him from
} the hospital and nursed him as tender
} and keerful as mother does her ailinE
: baby.
J And would you believe it, that il
! time she brought the man round to bC
ashamed of the trick he'd played or
her, and to be just as steady and easy
going husband as any in Cross-Keys
: Betsy Ann Wells never went on the
; rails again. except once or twice with
/ her husband, paying her own fare.
| And oncesshe told the conductor tina
, spite of everything the company ha'
done. she'd got the best of the bargain
? a good husband and money enough t.
| make him and her comfortable TO
, life..-SUSie ASter Watts.